SOCCER: Chris Byrne is ready to play through pain for three more matches to help Macclesfield Town through an injury crisis.

Byrne is due to go in for a hernia operation after Macc's game with Cheltenham on April 6.

The 27-year-old has been suffering with the injury for more than a month, but has played on to help the Silkmen pull away from the relegation scrap.

With Macc now mathematically safe after Friday's win at Hartlepool, the club have booked him in for surgery to have him ready for next season.

But Byrne is likely to play some part in Macc's next three games because fellow midfielders Kevin Keen and Chris Priest are both struggling with injuries, while Danny Whitaker will be suspended following his red card at Leyton Orient.

Keen strained his calf in training on Monday, while Priest has an ankle injury.

Manager David Moss said: "Chris is going to have to play through a little bit of pain for the next couple of games."